The family of the Yonkers teen accused of bringing a loaded gun into his high school is coming to his defense.

Alrick Bucknor, 16, was arrested Wednesday after police say he brought a .22 caliber, loaded pistol to class while concealed in his backpack.

His foster father says the boy was new to Roosevelt High School and was being bullied by other students. Bucknor had recently transferred to Roosevelt High from the Bronx. Wednesday was only the seventh day that he had attended classes at the school.

School officials say each student is normally screened before entering the building up until 8:30 a.m. But because the teen had been late that day, he managed to get through security unchecked.

Bucknor's foster father tried to downplay the incident saying he was just as shocked as school officials. He added he has no clue where the teen may have gotten the gun; "I have no idea. Kids make choices, he made a bad choice and I pray to God that he learned his lesson from the bad choice that he made."

Bucknor did not enter a plea in court yesterday on charges of criminal possession of a weapon. He's being charged as an adult and is due back in court later this month.

In addition to the criminal charges he's facing, school officials say he'll be suspended for a year and will face a disciplinary hearing.